◎陳成良

Women in several countries have begun sending their panties to Myanmar embassies in a culturally insulting gesture of protest against the recent brutal crackdown there.

數國婦女開始把她們的內褲寄送到緬甸大使館，以一種文化羞辱舉動，抗議緬甸最近的殘暴鎮壓行動。

"It’s an extremely strong message in Burmese and in all Southeast Asian culture," said Liz Hilton, who supports an activist group that launched the "Panties for Peace" drive earlier this week.

「在緬甸與所有東南亞國家的文化中，這是非常強烈的訊息。」麗茲．希爾頓說。她聲援一個於本週稍早發起「為和平發送內褲」運動的社運團體。

The group, Lanna Action for Burma, says the country’s superstitious generals, especially junta leader Gen. Than Shwe, also believe that contact with women’s underwear saps them of power.

該團體「藍納行動聲援緬甸」表示，緬甸迷信的軍頭，特別是軍事執政團領導人丹瑞將軍，也深信接觸女人內衣褲，會削弱他們的權力。

Hilton said women in Thailand, Australia, Singapore, England and other European countries have started sending or delivering their underwear to Myanmar missions following informal coordination among activist organizations and individuals.

希爾頓說，在社運組織與若干個人經過非正式協調整合後，泰國、澳洲、新加坡、英格蘭及其他歐洲國家的婦女，開始將她們的內褲寄送或投遞到緬甸駐外領使館。

"You can post, deliver or fling your panties at the closest Burmese Embassy any day from today. Send early, send often!" the Lanna Action for Burma Web site urges.

「從今天起，妳可以在任何一天將妳的內褲郵寄、投遞，或拋向最近的緬甸大使館。早點發送，常常發送！」藍納行動聲援緬甸的網站呼籲。

新聞辭典 Dictionary

Myanmar：為緬甸軍政府1989年更改的國名。政治流亡份子、美國和英國則習慣用緬甸在英國殖民統治時期的舊名Burma。聯合國、日本和其他許多國家則接受Myanmar為緬甸的官方名稱。

sap：動詞，削弱；逐漸消耗。例句：The intense heat sapped her strength. （酷暑消耗了她的體力。）

fling：動詞，猛投、拋擲。過去式為 flung。例句： He flung a stone at me.（他拿石頭丟我。）